Madagascar has raced its way onto many wildlife enthusiasts’ travel wish list in recent years, and it’s no surprise why. The nature here has evolved at its own pace and under its own rules. The country is home to many species found nowhere else on Earth, such as lemurs. The island’s isolation from the rest of the world means they have been able to thrive. Over time, they have adapted to the country’s diverse habitats by evolving into many sub-species which range from the tiny pygmy mouse lemur to the toddler-sized indri lemur. Andasibe National Park is the best park to see indri lemur. You can also spot grey bamboo lemurs, brown lemurs, woolly lemurs and a variety of other wildlife including the two-foot-long Parson’s chameleon and the long-eared owl.
Another great spot for wildlife is the remote west of Madagascar, the dry, deciduous forest is home to lemurs, bush pigs, butterflies, chameleons and many species of bird. The area is also home to the unusual fossa, a cat-like mammal related to the mongoose family.
Blanketed with some of the richest equatorial rainforest in the world, Borneo is home to many rare species. Tanjung National Park is more accessible than most of the other parks in Indonesian Borneo and home to orangutans, macaques, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, river dolphins and many species of bird. We recommend staying on a klotok (houseboat), which travels along the narrow backwaters – here you’ll be able to spot primates climbing the trees and the abundance of birds under the jungle canopy. At night, thousands of fireflies illuminate the trees like Christmas lights creating a poetic, surreal atmosphere.
In the depths of the park sits the Camp Leakey Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre which has been caring for orphaned and rescued orangutans since the 1970s. A visit here is very rewarding and allows you to see them feeding and interacting with each other up-close. The orangutan are also free to roam the 4,000-square-kilometre park.
For centuries, Antarctica has attracted travellers who want to experience the otherworldly great white continent, and now it is more accessible than ever. There are a number of comfortable ships which can take you on a cruise to see the epic, unspoilt landscape and creatures which call it home. At Audley, we only work with smaller expedition vessels which include specialist guides and as many excursions off the main ship as possible which can include kayaking, camping mountaineering and paddle-boarding. In between activities you’ll be provided with lectures and presentations about the history, ecology and geology of the region.
Antarctica is also home to some of the world’s most extraordinary species such as whales, penguins and albatross. On the remoter islands like South Georgia, travellers can walk among half a million king penguins who, due to a lack of predators, are unphased by the presence of humans.
India is often overlooked when it comes to wildlife, but it is actually home to around 70% of the world’s entire tiger population. Ranthambhore National Park is easily accessible from the north’s Golden Triangle and with a good tiger population, it’s a great option for those wanting to combine wildlife and culture. The Parks of Central India, such as Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh are also recommended for a more wildlife-focused trip. However, as a result of increased sightings, popularity in the parks has inevitably grown, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is a lesser-known option in Central India with just a handful of lodges and one of the highest densities of tigers.
In addition to tigers, India is home to sloth bears, lions and wild Asian elephants as well as an abundance of interesting birdlife.
Kenya epitomises the safari destination of most people’s imagination. Its Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most renowned in Africa with open grasslands dotted with wildebeest and acacia trees providing shade for the big cats. It is also home to the annual Great Migration, which is considered one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth. The migration sees a herd of up to two-million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle journey to the Masai Mara from the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania.
Many people head to Kenya in search of the ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo). The term ‘Big Five’ originated when hunting was prevalent and these were considered the most difficult of Africa’s big game to shoot. Fortunately, today’s travellers are going in search of them to observe them in their natural habitats, admire their behaviours and to take photographs. Lewa Wilderness Conservancy which sits in the north of Kenya stretches over 45,000 acres and is home to all of the ‘Big Five’ including both white and black rhino. You’ll also have the chance to see zebra, impala, giraffe, cheetah and hyena. During the heat of the late morning many of the animals can be seen gathering around the waterholes to drink.
With grizzly and black bears, moose, wolves and elk Canada is an excellent destination to go in search of wildlife. Vancouver Island is a fantastic place to spot black bears in the wild, they are great climbers and it’s not uncommon to see a mother ushering her cubs up a pine tree out of harm’s way. The Kermode, or ‘spirit bear’ is the rarest of all North American bears and can only be found in a small corner of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest where you can also spot black bear, whales, sea otters, dolphins and sea lions in the waters.
The little town of Churchill is situated in northern Manitoba on the shores of Hudson Bay and was recently named the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’. Each autumn the area’s polar bears venture into newly frozen pack ice to hunt for seals.
The Galapagos Islands are arguably the best place in the world for wildlife lovers. Its isolation from mainland Ecuador has led to the development of unique and bizarre indigenous fauna. Due to its vulnerable ecosystems, 97% of the islands are listed as a national park and heavily protected, this means that some islands are off-limits to travellers. You’ll explore in small groups with a naturalist guide who will explain Darwinism and the evolutionary history of the islands. Human interference has been kept to a minimum here which means the animals do feel threatened; you can get up close to weird and wonderful creatures such as marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches and flightless cormorants.
Snorkelling is a must when in this part of the world, you can see fish of all colours, reef sharks, many species of stingray and possibly Galapagos penguins. Regulations say that you should stay two metres from the wildlife at all times, but their curiosity makes this virtually impossible; you may find yourself surrounded with sea turtles and sea lions when swimming off the beach.
